En estos capítulos, tenemos el registro de la resurrección de Lázaro. Después, Lázaro se encuentra en comunión con otros de la misma fe, cuyo centro es el Señor. Es el paso de la esfera de la muerte a la esfera de “la vida eterna” (“lo que realmente es vida” según la traducción por J. N. Darby en inglés) (1ª Timoteo 6:19). Esto ilustra otro aspecto de la transición del judaísmo al cristianismo.
La condición de la muerte en la cual estaba Lázaro es una figura del estado de la nación de Israel bajo la Ley, moral y espiritualmente. Todo el sistema de la Ley es “el ministerio de muerte” y “ministerio de condenación” (2ª Corintios 3:7, 9). Todos bajo las condiciones legales de este sistema, que no cumplieron sus términos, fueron muertos. El levantar a Lázaro de entre los muertos es una figura del trabajo del Señor al tomar un remanente de creyentes fuera de este sistema legal. María y Marta son emblema de las dos partes del remanente de creyentes de ese tiempo. María tenía plena certeza de fe y esperaba la expectativa del retorno del Señor (versículo 20). Ella nos recuerda a Simeón y a Ana, y otros, que estaban esperando en fe por “la redención en Jerusalem” (Lucas 2:25-3825And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25‑38)). Marta expresaba una debilidad en la fe que también era vista en muchos de los creyentes judíos de ese tiempo. Ella creía en el poder del Señor, pero cuestionaba Sus tiempos y caminos—y aún le culpaba por llegar tarde (versículo 21). Muchos creyentes en ese tiempo estaban llenos de dudas (Mateo 28:1717And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17); Lucas 24:13-3313And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, (Luke 24:13‑33); Juan 20:24-3124But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:24‑31)).
El recibir el evangelio no solo trae vida al alma del creyente (“vida eterna”) sino que también lleva al creyente a una esfera de vida en la comunidad de los santos. El apóstol Pablo se refiere a este último aspecto de vida como “vida eterna”—a lo que los santos serán llevados cuando sean glorificados en el cielo (Romanos 5:21; 6:22-2321That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:22‑23); 1ª Timoteo 6:11; Tito 1:2; 3:72In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7)). Esto está ilustrado en la escena en la cual Lázaro es encontrado después de ser levantado de entre los muertos (capítulo 12:1-3). Él disfrutaba de alegre comunión en la cena con María, Marta y los discípulos, con el Señor en medio de ellos. Él no sólo recibió vida en su alma, sino fue llevado a una esfera de vida entre creyentes, lo cual es una figura de la comunión cristiano (¤ª Juan 1:33All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)).
Sin embargo, Lázaro no fue inmediatamente de la tumba a la cena de Betania. Cuando salió de la tumba estaban “atadas las manos y los pies ... y su rostro” y necesitaba ser desatado. Esto nos habla de las ataduras del sistema de principios legalistas judíos (Hechos 15:1010Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:10); Gálatas 4:24-2524Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Galatians 4:24‑25)). Muchas veces aquellos que han sido salvados del sistema son estorbados por esos principios legalistas que han formado sus conciencias. Con frecuencia traerán sus “vendas” del judaísmo (principios y prácticas legalistas) al círculo Cristiano y puede ser molesto a los santos (Hechos 10:9-169On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. (Acts 10:9‑16); Romanos 14:1-61Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. (Romans 14:1‑6); Gálatas 2:11-1411But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (Galatians 2:11‑14)). El Señor dijo: “Desatadle, y dejadle ir” (versículo 44). Esto nos habla del trabajo que dejó el Señor a Sus siervos (particularmente a los Apóstoles) en los primeros días del cristianismo. Su ministerio hacia aquellos que fueron salvados del judaísmo era liberarlos de las trampas de aquella religión terrenal. Las epístolas judío/cristianas (Hebreos, Santiago, 1ª y 2ª Pedro) son ejemplos de este trabajo. Aquellos escritores del Nuevo Testamento trabajaron para que los creyentes judíos sean liberados de las “vendas” del judaísmo y establecidos en la libertad cristiana (Gálatas 5:11Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)).
Entre los eventos concernientes a Lázaro siendo resucitado y él participando de la cena en Betania, Caifás, el sumo sacerdote, profetizó (involuntariamente) que “Jesús había de morir por la nación” (versículos 47-54). Él tenía malvadas y egoístas intenciones en lo que dijo al concilio (el Sanedrín). Para decirlo de otro modo, él dijo: “Si esto continúa así (eso es, la gente siguiendo al Señor Jesús) habrá una revolución en la tierra, y los romanos vendrán y nos matarán a todos”. Él sugirió que deberían matar a Cristo y desparramar a Sus seguidores para acabar con el movimiento, y así salvar a la nación de ser destruida. Él razonaba que era mejor que “un hombre muera por el pueblo” que dejar que “toda la nación” perezca. Por tanto, Caifás no estaba dolido por matar a un Hombre inocente si esto preservaría a la nación en la tierra. Pero Dios anuló lo que Caifás dijo y él profetizó sin saber lo que exactamente iba a suceder con la muerte de Cristo. El Señor no solo moriría por la nación, sino que también Él reuniría “en uno los hijos de Dios que estaban derramados”. Esto señala a la actual obra de Dios en la dispensación cristiana al traer creyentes gentiles al rebaño de Dios junto con creyentes judíos (Juan 10:1616And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)).
Una vez liberado de las vendas del judaísmo, encontramos a Lázaro en comunión con sus hermanas y los apóstoles en la cena donde el Señor se encontraba en medio (capítulo 12:1-3). Es una escena que muestra la comunión y adoración cristiana. Vemos a María en ejercicio de la libertad que marca la adoración cristiana. Ella no tenía autoridad oficial para actuar como sacerdote (como era requerido en la religión judía), pero en libertad se aproximó al Señor con su “ungüento de nardo líquido”—lo cual nos habla de la adoración. Lamentablemente, aquellos como María, que actúan en la libertad del Espíritu en la adoración cristiana, serán criticados por aquellos cuyas mentes fueron formadas por el orden judaico (capítulo 12:4-8). Adicionalmente, los sumos sacerdotes acordaron matar a Lázaro después de que fue levantado de los muertos (capítulo 12:10). Esto muestra que habrá persecución contra aquellos que fueron rescatados de las ataduras del judaísmo y que caminan en la libertad del cristianismo.